Barça dispatches Manchester City to advance to Champions quarters

Barça dispatches Manchester City to advance to Champions quarters

Barcelona, Mar 12 (EFE).- FC Barcelona advanced to the Champions League quarterfinals with a 2-1 win here Wednesday over Manchester City in the second leg of their round of 16 tie.

Barça came into the match with a two-goal cushion after beating City 2-0 on the road in the first leg.

Even so, Wednesday's first half ended scoreless and the visitors put the home side under intense pressure in the opening minutes of the second period.

The best player of the night was Barcelona superstriker Lionel Messi, who would likely have put his side ahead in the first half if the referee hadn't overlooked an obvious foul in the area.

The Argentine hit the post early in the second half before going on to score in the 67th minute, to the relief of the more than 85,000 fans packed into the Nou Camp.

Messi's goal snatched the wind from City's sails and the English squad found itself reduced to 10 men in the 78th minute when Zabaleta was tossed on a second yellow card after he complained that the referee missed Gerard Pique's foul in the area on Dzeko.

City captain Vincent Kompany got a consolation goal in the 90th minute, only to see Dani Alves score for Barça in extra time and make it 4-1 on aggregate.

The French club, which routed Bayer 4-0 in the first leg, felt comfortable enough to rest six starters for Wednesday's contest.

The visitors from Germany struck first with a goal in the 6th minute by Sam, but Marquinhos evened the score seven minutes later and Lavezzi added a goal early in the second half, allowing PSG to advance 5-1 on aggregate.